Combination of vehicle and track therefor



July 4, 1967 v, MCGOVERN 3,329,096

COMBINATION OF VEHICLE AND TRACK THEREFOR Filed Dec. 23. 1964 FIG. I.

INVENTOR JOHN V. MCGOVERN V. AITORNEY.

United States Patent 3,329,096 COMBINATION OF VEHICLE AND TRACK THEREFOR John V. McGovern, 3 Cobb Ave., White Plains, N.Y. 10606 Filed Dec. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 420,674 8 Claims. (Cl. 104-138) This invention relates to means for transportation, and, more particularly, to the combination of a track and a vehicle.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a novel means for transportation characterized in that the speed of transportation is high, while at the same time a high degree of safety is provided.

The manner in which these and other objects of the invention are realized will be apparent from the following description taken in reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a transportation system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show friction reducing means provided in the vehicle track of the invention, in cross-section;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a track provided with friction reducing means; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a portion of a track.

According to the invention, there is provided, in the combination, a vehicle track 1 comprising hoops 2 disposed in spaced relation with air space separating next adjacent hoops. The hoops are axially aligned over the course of the track, and an elongated man carrying vehicle 3. In length, the vehicle is greater than the distance between a plurality of the hoops, and the vehicle is disposed within the hoops with its axis parallel to the axes of the hoops. 1

The hoops can be formed of a continuous length of metal, for example steel, wound so as to provide a helix, the turns of the helix constituting the hoops of the track. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the track is formed of a helix. This is indicated by the showing in FIG. 5.

The track can be supported in any appropriate manner. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, spaced turns of the helix are secured to overhead depending supports 4.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inwardly disposed surfaces of the turns, or at least a portion of such surfaces, are lined with a material of low coefficient of friction, relative to the material of which the hoops are formed. Thus, it is desirable to form the helix of a strong material, such as, for example, steel and further, to provide the track so that the surface thereof contacted by the vehicle has alower coefficient of friction than does the steel of the hoops. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the material of low coefiicient of friction is provided so as to provide within the turns a bed of blades of low coefiicient of friction material, on which the vehicle is to ride. A suitable material for this surface is Teflon, which is polytetra fluoroethylene. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the internal surface of the hoops is provided with the blades 6 of Tefion. Referring to FIG. 3, the blades 6 can be formed with a head 7 which is pressed through an opening 8 in the hoop. The head is oversize with respect to the opening so that following the pressing through of the head, the blade is secured in place. As is shown in FIG. 2, the blades 9 are bent so that the apex 10 of each blade points in the intended direction of travel for the vehicle. This provides a further reduction in friction.

The vehicle 3 can be jet powered having a jet exhaust 11. The spacing of the hoops 2 makes the use of a jet practical since by reason of the spacing of the hoops, there is adequate ventilation so that the exhaust of the jet is exhausted from the track, without difiiculty. The vehicle 3 has a smooth extended surface 12 for sliding surface contact with the blades 6.

It is contemplated that the track will serve to guide the vehicle. If desired, however, control surfaces such as a rudder can be included to facilitate control of directional movement of the vehicle. The vehicle is provided with windows 14 and with the forward Windshield 15.

While the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that such embodiments are merely representative and do not serveto set forth the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination:

(a) a vehicle track comprising hoops disposed in spaced relation with air space separating next adjacent hoops, the hoops being axially aligned over the course of the track;

(b) at least a portion of the internal surface of said hoops being lined with material having a low c0- efficient of friction with respect to the coeflicient of friction of the hoops;

(c) an elongated man-carrying vehicle in length greater than the distance between a plurality of said hoops, said vehicle being disposed within said hoops with its axis generally parallel to the axis of the hoops.

2. Combination according to claim 1, said hoops being turns of a helix.

3. Combination according to claim 1, wherein said lining comprises radially inwardly extending blades providing a bed of blades within the hoops for the vehicle to ride on.

4. Combination according to claim 3, said blades being formed of Teflon.

5. Combination according to claim 1, said vehicle being jet powered.

6. Combination according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle has a smooth extended outer surface for sliding surface contact with the vehicle track.

7. Combination according to claim 4, said vehicle including a smooth, extended surface for sliding surface contact with said blades.

8. Combination according to claim 7, said vehicle being jet powered.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,190,235 6/1965 Bertin et al. 104-155 X FOREIGN PATENTS 679,572 8/1939 Germany.

OTHER REFERENCES Closer Than We Think, Cartoon From Washington Sunday Star, Oct. 2, 1960, cited as Star.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. J. E. BABER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION: (A) A VEHICLE TRACK COMPRISING HOOPS DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION WITH AIR SPACE SEPARATING NEXT ADJACENT HOOPS, THE HOOPS BEING AXIALLY ALIGNED OVER THE COURSE OF THE TRACK; (B) AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF SAID HOOPS BEING LINED WITH MATERIAL HAVING A LOW COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION WITH RESPECT TO THE COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION OF THE HOOPS; (C) AN ELONGATED MAN-CARRYING VEHICLE IN LENGTH GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF SAID HOOPS, SAID VEHICLE BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOOPS WITH ITS AXIS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE HOOPS. 